Help Shape the Future of the Alpine Lakes Wilderness

Some of Washington’s most iconic trails are in the Alpine Lakes Wilderness, a special area that’s less than 2 hours away for millions of people. The area’s distinct natural beauty invites nature lovers to popular trails and the remote backcountry alike. The wilderness’s popularity and its nearness to urban areas also create challenges and opportunities in planning for the future.

Given its beauty, it's not surprising that the Alpine Lakes Wilderness is a popular destination for hikers. Photo by Alicia Mau. 

As more people get out on trail, the Forest Service needs new methods for managing the Alpine Lakes Wilderness. The agency must balance protecting the wilderness character of this special place with ensuring access to the outdoors for generations to come.

Right now, you can take a survey to inform an important effort working towards that future!

Since 2021, Washington Trails Association has been working with other stakeholders — including the Forest Service, which is the land manager for the area — as part of the Alpine Lakes Collaborative. The Collaborative is a network of partners, made up of groups representing conservationists, hikers, anglers, equestrians and more, that is committed to working together to build innovative solutions for visiting and using the ALW. The most immediate goal is to develop suggestions for future management of the Alpine Lakes Wilderness.

The voices of hikers talking about the value of recreation in the Alpine Lakes Wilderness will highlight the need to invest in recreation infrastructure, from trails to roads to parking. Take the survey now!

Wilderness and the Alpine Lakes

The Alpine Lakes Wilderness spans over 414,000 acres with more than 700 lakes. It’s an important place for tribes, recreators and local ecosystems. And it’s a beloved recreation area for hikers, climbers, hunters, backpackers, anglers, equestrians, runners and skiers.

Map made by Victoria Jarvis of the Society for Wilderness Stewardship for the Alpine Lakes Collaborative. The Alpine Lakes Wilderness is jointly managed by the Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie (west of the Cascades) and Okanogan-Wenatchee (east of the Cascades) national forests.

This landscape has been inspiring hikers and conservationists for decades, which led to the creation of the wilderness in 1976. It was protected for its spectacular alpine lakes, diverse landscapes, jagged peaks and incredible scenery. In the wilderness, captivating alpine lakes are within a day’s reach of many people looking to get outside.

The Wilderness Act guides standards for wilderness areas, with the goal of preserving natural conditions and providing an experience relatively unimpacted by development. In the 1980s, the Forest Service developed a plan to manage the Alpine Lakes Wilderness. That plan was later amended to include backcountry camping permits for the Core Enchantments Zone, self-issue permits at many trailheads and camping group size limits. Those permits and limits are a key part of the visitor use management strategies practiced today.

The Future of the Wilderness

As the population of the Puget Sound region increases and destinations in the Alpine Lakes Wilderness become more well-known, the Forest Service is considering how management can adapt to better meet current and projected use.

At present, a network of partnerships supports the Forest Service’s ability to maintain trails. Over two decades, WTA has spent over 140,000 hours maintaining trails in the Alpine Lakes Wilderness. A huge range of people are passionate about the Alpine Lakes Wilderness. When we think about the future of the wilderness, we must consider all of these stakes.

Changes in the management of the Alpine Lakes Wilderness will impact hundreds of thousands of current and future visitors — from brand-new hikers to people who have been exploring for decades. The wilderness area offers ways to explore the wilderness, develop a sense of stewardship for wild places and sharpen outdoor skills.

Share stories about your connection with the Alpine Lakes Wilderness to shape future management plans for the area. Photo by Andy Bokanev.

Now, the Collaborative is looking for your thoughts on the future of the Alpine Lakes Wilderness. A survey is open until Sept. 1, 2023. By sharing your experiences and hopes, you can play a key role in shaping the future management of this special place. The survey results will help the Collaborative and the Forest Service prepare for the future of such a spectacular landscape.

We want to hear about your experiences recreating in the Alpine Lakes Wilderness, and what experiences you want in decades to come. We know this place is special to so many hikers. This survey lets you share why you love the Alpine Lakes Wilderness and how you spend your time when you visit.

Why do you love the Alpine Lakes Wilderness? Maybe it’s because the area offers a range of difficulty levels — from relaxing to grueling. Maybe it’s because you can get in a quick day hike or enjoy lunch at an alpine lake on a well-maintained trail. Or maybe you love the chance to spend a night in the backcountry. Whatever your reasons, the Collaborative wants to hear about them.

And what does a great day on trail look like to you? Perhaps it’s easy parking, welcoming people, clear signage, iconic views or reliable restrooms. When you think about the future, what would you like to see more of? What important factors make the Alpine Lakes Wilderness the place you go to get outside? The survey gives you a chance to share all of this with people who will help make decisions about the future of the Alpine Lakes Wilderness.

WTA believes that everyone deserves easy access to a variety of natural experiences and that we must act now to invest in trail systems that can support the growing desire for time outside. People go to the Alpine Lakes Wilderness for so many reasons. We want to ensure people can continue to enjoy their beloved recreation opportunities in the Wilderness. You can help us in the effort by taking the survey by Sept. 1.

Take the survey